SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The deadline is fast approaching for South Dakota small businesses, health care organizations, and non-profits to apply for some $600 million in COVID-19 relief grants.

The deadline to get in the application is Friday, October 23. The application is online: www.covid.sd.gov

State Representative Chris Karr, Sioux Falls Republican, helped work on the program during the recent special legislative session in Pierre.

Karr says an organization must prove it has been hurt by the coronavirus, but even if you are not sure just how much impact you suffered, you should still file. There may be more than one round.

He says organizations must prove a 25 percent business interruption, but lesser impacts may eventually qualify.

This grant program is part of the $1.2 billion South Dakota received under terms of the CARES Act.